Regulation of matrixmetalloproteinase-3 and matrixmetalloproteinase-13 by SUMO-2/3 through the transcription factor NF-κB

OBJECTIVE

Based on previous data that have linked the small ubiquitin-like modifier-1 (SUMO-1) to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we have investigated the expression of the highly homologous SUMO family members SUMO-2/3 in human RA and in the human tumour necrosis factor α transgenic (hTNFtg) mouse model of RA and studied their role in regulating disease specific matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs).

METHODS

Synovial tissue was obtained from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients and used for histological analyses as well as for the isolation of synovial fibroblasts (SFs). The expression of SUMO-2/3 in RA and OA patients as well as in hTNFtg and wild type mice was studied by PCR, western blot and immunostaining. SUMO-2/3 was knocked down using small interfering RNA in SFs, and TNF-α induced MMP production was determined by ELISA. Activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was determined by a luciferase activity assay and a transcription factor assay in the presence of the NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7082.

RESULTS

Expression of SUMO-2 and to a lesser extent of SUMO-3 was higher in RA tissues and RASFs compared with OA controls. Similarly, there was increased expression of SUMO-2 in the synovium and in SFs of hTNFtg mice compared with wild type animals. In vitro, the expression of SUMO-2 but not of SUMO-3 was induced by TNF-α. The knockdown of SUMO-2/3 significantly increased the TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-1β induced expression of MMP-3 and MMP-13, accompanied by increased NF-κB activity. Induction of MMP-3 and MMP-13 was inhibited by blockade of the NF-κB pathway. TNF-α and IL-1β mediated MMP-1 expression was not regulated by SUMO-2/3.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, we show that despite their high homology, SUMO-2/3 are differentially regulated by TNF-α and selectively control TNF-α mediated MMP expression via the NF-κB pathway. Therefore, we hypothesise that SUMO-2 contributes to the specific activation of RASF.

The loss of α2β1 integrin suppresses joint inflammation and cartilage destruction in mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Integrin α2β1 functions as a major receptor for type I collagen on different cell types, including fibroblasts and inflammatory cells. Although in vitro data suggest a role for α2β1 integrin in regulating both cell attachment and expression of matrix-degrading enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), mice that lack the α2 integrin subunit (Itga2(-/-) mice) develop normally and are fertile. We undertook this study to investigate the effect of Itga2 deficiency in 2 different mouse models of destructive arthritis: the antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) mouse model and the human tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-transgenic mouse model.

METHODS

AIA was induced in the knee joints of Itga2(-/-) mice and wild-type controls. Human TNF-transgenic mice were crossed with Itga2(-/-) mice and were assessed clinically and histopathologically for signs of arthritis, inflammation, bone erosion, and cartilage damage. MMP expression, proliferation, fibroblast attachment, and ERK activation were determined.

RESULTS

Under arthritic conditions, Itga2 deficiency led to decreased severity of joint pathology. Specifically, Itga2(-/-) mice showed less severe clinical symptoms and dramatically reduced pannus formation and cartilage erosion. Mice lacking α2β1 integrin exhibited reduced MMP-3 expression, both in their sera and in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), due to impaired ERK activation. Further, both the proliferation and attachment of FLS to cartilage were partially dependent on α2β1 integrin in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that α2β1 integrin contributes significantly to inflammatory cartilage destruction by promoting fibroblast proliferation and attachment and MMP expression.

Small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 [corrected] mediates the resistance of prosthesis-loosening fibroblast-like synoviocytes against Fas-induced apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

To study the expression of small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO-1) in aseptic loosening of prosthesis implants and to investigate its role in regulating the susceptibility of prosthesis-loosening fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) to Fas-induced apoptosis.

METHODS

Specimens of aseptically loosened tissue were obtained at revision surgery, and the expression of SUMO-1 was analyzed by in situ hybridization. SUMO-1 levels in FLS were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to study the subcellular localization of SUMO-1. The functional role of SUMO-1 in Fas-induced apoptosis of prosthesis-loosening FLS was investigated by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of SUMO-1 and by gene transfer of the nuclear SUMO-specific protease SENP1.

RESULTS

SUMO-1 was expressed strongly in aseptically loosened tissue and was found prominently at sites adjacent to bone. Prosthesis-loosening FLS expressed levels of SUMO-1 similar to the levels expressed by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) FLS, with SUMO-1 being found mainly in promyelocytic leukemia protein nuclear bodies. Knockdown of SUMO-1 had no effect on spontaneous apoptosis but significantly increased the susceptibility of prosthesis-loosening FLS to Fas-induced apoptosis. Gene transfer of the nuclear SUMO-specific protease SENP1 reverted the apoptosis-inhibiting effects of SUMO-1.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that SUMO-1 is involved in the activation of both RA FLS and prosthesis-loosening FLS by preventing these cells from undergoing apoptosis. Modification of nuclear proteins by SUMO-1 contributes to the antiapoptotic effects of SUMO-1 in prosthesis-loosening FLS, providing evidence for the specific activation of sumoylation during their differentiation. Therefore, SUMO-1 may be an interesting target for novel strategies to prevent aseptic prosthesis loosening.

PI3Kgamma regulates cartilage damage in chronic inflammatory arthritis

The gamma isoform of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3Kgamma) has been viewed as restricted to leukocytes mediating the regulation of chemokine-induced migration and recruitment of neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages. In line with the observation that PI3Kgamma-deficient mice display defects in adaptive immunity, inhibition of PI3Kgamma reduces synovial inflammation in the collagen-induced arthritis mouse model of inflammatory arthritis [rheumatoid arthritis (RA)], which has been attributed to reduced influx of inflammatory cells. Challenging the concept of leukocyte-restricted PI3Kgamma function, we report here a novel, nonredundant function of PI3Kgamma as an important regulator of fibroblast-induced cartilage destruction during chronic destructive arthritis. We show that in human tumor necrosis factor transgenic mice, the loss of PI3Kgamma leads to a milder inflammatory arthritis. Interestingly, PI3Kgamma deficiency does not alter the recruitment of inflammatory cells, but significantly reduces cartilage damage through reduced expression of matrix metalloproteinases in fibroblasts and chondrocytes. In vitro analyses demonstrate that the decreased invasiveness of fibroblasts is mediated by reduced phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Using a PI3Kgamma specific inhibitor, these data are confirmed in human synovial fibroblasts from patients with RA who exhibit a disease-specific up-regulation of PI3Kgamma. Our data indicate that in addition to mediating the recruitment of inflammatory cells, PI3Kgamma is an important regulator of fibroblast-mediated joint destruction in RA and suggest that specific inhibitors of PI3Kgamma will interfere with the activation of RA synovial fibroblasts and reduce cartilage destruction in RA.

Susceptibility of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts to FasL- and TRAIL-induced apoptosis is cell cycle-dependent

Introduction

The rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium is characterised by the presence of an aggressive population of activated synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) that are prominently involved in the destruction of articular cartilage and bone. Accumulating evidence suggests that RASFs are relatively resistant to Fas-ligand (FasL)-induced apoptosis, but the data concerning tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) have been conflicting. Here, we hypothesise that the susceptibility of RASFs to receptor-mediated apoptosis depends on the proliferation status of these cells and therefore analysed the cell cycle dependency of FasL- and TRAIL-induced programmed cell death of RASFs in vitro.

Methods

Synovial fibroblasts were isolated from patients with RA by enzymatic digestion and cultured under standard conditions. Cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry and staining with propidium iodide. RASFs were synchronised or arrested in various phases of the cell cycle with 0.5 mM hydroxyurea or 2.5 μg/ml nocodazol and with foetal calf serum-free insulin-transferrin-sodium selenite supplemented medium. Apoptosis was induced by stimulation with 100 ng/ml FasL or 100 ng/ml TRAIL over 18 hours. The apoptotic response was measured using the Apo-ONE^® Homogenous Caspase-3/7 Assay (Promega GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) and the Cell Death Detection (ELISA^Plus) (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany). Staurosporin-treated cells (1 μg/ml) served as a positive control. Expression of Fas and TRAIL receptors (TRAILR1-4) was determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis.

Results

Freshly isolated RASFs showed only low proliferation in vitro, and the rate decreased further over time, particularly when RASFs became confluent. RASFs expressed Fas, TRAIL receptor-1, and TRAIL receptor-2, and the expression levels were independent of the cell cycle. However, the proliferation rate significantly influenced the susceptibility to FasL- and TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Specifically, proliferating RASFs were less sensitive to FasL- and TRAIL-induced apoptosis than RASFs with a decreased proliferation rate. Furthermore, RASFs that were synchronised in S phase or G₂/M phase were less sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis than synchronised RASFs in G₀/G₁ phase.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that the susceptibility of RASFs to FasL- and TRAIL-induced apoptosis depends on the cell cycle. These results may explain some conflicting data on the ability of RASFs to undergo FasL- and TRAIL-mediated cell death and suggest that strategies to sensitise RASFs to apoptosis may include the targeting of cell cycle-regulating genes.

Epigenetic modifications in rheumatoid arthritis

Over the last decades, genetic factors for rheumatoid diseases like the HLA haplotypes have been studied extensively. However, during the past years of research, it has become more and more evident that the influence of epigenetic processes on the development of rheumatic diseases is probably as strong as the genetic background of a patient. Epigenetic processes are heritable changes in gene expression without alteration of the nucleotide sequence. Such modifications include chromatin methylation and post-translational modification of histones or other chromatin-associated proteins. The latter comprise the addition of methyl, acetyl, and phosphoryl groups or even larger moieties such as binding of ubiquitin or small ubiquitin-like modifier. The combinatory nature of these processes forms a complex network of epigenetic modifications that regulate gene expression through activation or silencing of genes. This review provides insight into the role of epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and points out how a better understanding of such mechanisms may lead to novel therapeutic strategies.